I retired quite a number of posts from the blog today. Politics, politics, politics, it seemed that the blog was becoming all about politics, and politics tends to be a negative thing. Conflict is the very nature of politics.

Pipes though are about pleasure, and a space such as this should have plenty of pleasure. My whim this fine morning is that we should have more pleasure, more billowing clouds of latikia. I do so enjoy indulging my whims, and today is no different.

Perhaps the politics will return, when I've had enough pleasure.

Posted by Cameron at 11:16 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

WashBucket bills itself as "a non-partisan, daily roundup of Washington State public policy, political news & events."

It was launched with this year's legislative session and is becoming a great resource for following the twists and turns of Washington State government.

Washbucket.net

Posted by Cameron at 8:18 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I've started reading The Jefferson Bible, that President's attempt to separate facts from fictions within the New Testament. It is I think an important work as was recognized by the fact that it was given to all new members of Congress for generations.

I believe that a critical reading of the texts we take to be revealed is important, and we are lucky to have so worthy a guide as Mr. Jefferson take us through the Gospels.

Posted by Cameron at 7:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Yesterday was the annual Seattle Pipe Club Dinner and Auction. It once again proved itself to be the finest gentleman's event anywhere. I'll post details about the dinner at a future date, but today would like to talk about my wonderful new Senlar pipe.

The pipe was donated to the club by our guest speaker Mr. Tony Soderman, and as luck would have it Mr. Soderman included a newspaper article about Senlar pipes and their maker Wally Larsen as I had no knowledge of the brand or maker.

It is a Canadian shape, quite large with a shank over four inches long. Deeply and well rusticated in a tree bark pattern. Quite beautiful and obviously well made, I look forward to seeing how it smokes.

I did search out Senlar Pipes on Pipedia today, hoping for more information than could be gleaned from the newspaper article, but alas apparently my ignorance of Senlar is fairly widespread as there was virtually no information there. In an attempt to help fill this lack of knowledge I gathered some information from the article and placed it into Pipedia. I'm reprinting it here:

Senlar Pipes were made in Minnesota by pipe maker Wally Larsen who inverted his last name LAR SEN to come up with SEN LAR. The Saint Paul Pioneer Press nicknamed Larsen "The Great Dane Of The Pipe World" in 1973. Larsen's pipes were made in the basement of his Minnetonka home, with pipes selling in 1973 for as much as $75. Larsen learned the pipe making craft in the 1940's when an established pipe maker moved into the home next door. After observing this craftsman work for three years Larsen decided to make a pipe for himself. That first pipe got him some attention from fellow smokers and he sold his next nine before being able to keep another for himself.

Larsen sought to make Senlar pipes "Look like a tree." Which he accomplished by using a whirling drill to carve a distinctive bark like finish on the pipe. It is a finish seen on most Senlars and Larsen regarded it as a sort of trademark.

Posted by Cameron at 4:52 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

A vintage Airstream can be a truly wonderful thing to buy. They are strong, reliable, always in style, and by buying an older unit a great deal of money can be saved over new.

One must though, shop with care, and remember that buyer beware.

I arrived back at the Airstream a day or two ago to find a note attached to the door. It was from a woman named Susan, informing me that she had just purchased a vintage Airstream, and needed the name of a repair guy fast.

I called her with the contact information for my guy, and discussed the trouble she was having with her Airstream.

It seems that she recently purchased the trailer, and had been assured by the previous owner that it was free of leaks. She did notice some staining from a previous leak, but the owner assured her that he had fixed it and that it leaked no more.

Of course, she purchased it out of covered storage.

To make a long story short, she bought it, it rained, and the leak was right where the previous owner said it wasn't. Now she has repair bills on top of what was likely a substantial purchase price, and the repair must be made quickly before the floor begins to rot.

Ronald Reagan said 'Trust But Verify' when referring to nuclear disarmament, but when buying an older Airstream it is likely best to stick with the Verify, and leave the Trust to someone else.

Posted by Cameron at 6:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)